Interview with Mary Trentwood

Hello! My name is Katelina, and welcome to Weekend Character Interviews. Using state of the art-mumbo-jumbo author magic, Jo has temporarily bent the laws of fictional space and time to allow various literary universes to converge long enough for me to ask different characters a few questions. Since I spend a lot of time in the Amaranthine series quizzing vampires on what they’re doing, where they’re going and why, Jo thought I would be the perfect interviewer.

Haunting Miss Trentwood

Today we have more than just an inter-universe meeting, as Mary Trentwood is the lead character from Belinda Kroll’s quirky Historical Romance Haunting Miss Trentwood. Yes, Historical! How cool is that?

Katelina: Hello, Miss Trentwood – may I call you Mary? Welcome to the Weekend Interview. Why don’t you tell our readers a little about yourself?

Mary: I am called Mary Trentwood, and I am the sole daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Gideon Trentwood of Compton Beauchamp, Berkshire, England. I am not one to linger upon my looks, and so shall attempt to be brief. My aunt despairs of my height, I have dark hair, hazel eyes, and have lost the habit of smiling.

K: The book you star in is titled Haunting Miss Trentwood?

M: Yes, and I am as fond of the title as you might expect, given its implication of my role in the novel.

K: Is the title a metaphor, or are you actually haunted?

M: No, I am haunted in the truest sense of the word. I begin the novel grieving for my dearly departed father; the story opens, unfortunately, on the day of his funeral. I quickly forget my grief, however, when I see him crawl from his grave in the first few pages. Over time, I do reclaim my vivre; I must. I, for one, am not the sort of wilting English rose who will let such things as ghosts get in the way of possible happiness with a most respectable gentleman.

K: Oh wow. My author was too lazy to actually put any real ghosts in my books, but maybe that’s a good thing. How do you feel about your ghost?

M: It rankles that my author has set my father upon me as an intrusive, impudent, domineering ghost… yet, I believe I am rather glad of it, given the final outcome of the matter.

photo by me

K:Yeah, I guess all’s well that ends well, as they say. What would you say is the biggest challenge you face in the story?

M: Oh my, what a question! I suppose I could say that the biggest challenge I face is my father haunting me as I struggle through my grief over his death, natural though it was. If pressed, however, I could very well say that I am my biggest challenge. I am given an opportunity to address a regret from my past, as well as take a risk for my future happiness. I have been so very careful these last few years leading up to the book to not behave in an untoward manner that might lead to yet another regret. It is in this book that I realize there are some things worth risking.

K: Ah! Past regrets? I smell a romance!

M: How very pert! Though I would hardly like to claim that I am in something so tawdry as a romance, I must be frank and admit that I am. The regret from my past was over a Mr Jasper Steele, he was the handsomest man I had ever met, and I do so regret my father sending him away. And then there is the matter of Mr Alexander Hartwell… He is quite dashing, even with his scar. I am not one to waver in my decisions, but in this case, I am completely undone.

K: That sounds romantic! Though you sound like a very strong, resolute kind of person. Did your upbringing influence that?

M: My mother’s death was a very hard time. I was not yet in my stays when she died, and took her role as mistress of the manor for my father. I inherited what my father calls my “morbid sense of humor” from her. When my father became ill, almost bedridden, I was rather accustomed to facing truths I had not the heart for, and the will to do what must be done.

photo by Karen Horton via Flickr

K: I see how that could make quite a difference. What would you say is the one thing you want most in the whole world?

M: To feel content, at peace, loved for my faults.

K: I don’t think anyone could ask for more. It looks like we are about out of time, but before you go, is there anything you’d like to say to your readers?

M: As inelegant as it sounds, humor, ladies and gentlemen, is key.

K: A very true statement! I want to thank Miss Mary Trentwood for stopping by and so candidly answering my questions. You can find her in Belinda Kroll’s Historical Romance Haunting Miss Trentwood

Haha yes, Mary is rather impertinent herself… I wonder where she gets it from?? The ghost is very real, and when she says he is “domineering,” she means it. But don’t judge him too harshly, he’s as to haunting as Mary is to being haunted.

Who wouldnt love that? I spent an entire day reading it because I was unable to put it down and I came away satisfied by the ending. Belinda Kroll writes with such fluidity in a style that is reminiscent of classic authors like Jane Austen. I was not disappointed at any stage within the book it flowed beautifully making me feel that I didnt want it to end. – Suzy Turner—If you love Amanda Quick Mary Jo Putney Deanna Raybourn and Victoria Holt you will love HAUNTING MISS TRENTWOOD!Mary Trentwood is horrified when she watches her father crawl from his grave the day of his funeral.

Authors db

An independent author, freelance artist, and photographer for fun who loves anime, music, and writing. Check out my vampire series Amaranthine at http://JoleeneNaylor.com or drop me a line at Joleene@JoleeneNaylor.com